Recreation Plan 2019-2023
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Recreation Plan 2019-2023 A Joint Recreation Planning Effort by the Communities of: Alpena County Alpena Charter Township Green Township Ossineke Township Wilson Township i A JOINT RECREATION PLANNING EFFORT BY THE COMMUNITIES OF: Alpena County Alpena Charter Township Green Township Ossineke Township Wilson Township Recreation Plan Adopted_______ Prepared by: Northeast Michigan Council of Governments 80 Livingston Blvd Suite 8 P. O. Box 457 Gaylord, Michigan 49735 www.nemcog.org 989-705-3730 i RECREATION PLAN Table of Contents Chapter 1 Community Description _______________________________________________ 1-7 Extent of Plan Focus ________________________________________________________ 1-7 Location and Regional Setting ________________________________________________ 1-7 A Snapshot of Natural Features of the Community _______________________________ 1-8 Chapter 2 Administrative Structures ____________________________________________ 2-15 Alpena County Administration ______________________________________________ 2-15 Alpena Charter Township Administration ______________________________________ 2-22 Green Township Administration _____________________________________________ 2-24 Ossineke Township Administration ___________________________________________ 2-26 Wilson Township Administration ____________________________________________ 2-28 Chapter 3 Recreation Inventory ________________________________________________ 3-31 Alpena County Recreation Inventory _________________________________________ 3-31 Alpena Charter Township Recreation Inventory _________________________________ 3-36 Green Township Recreation Inventory ________________________________________ 3-39 Ossineke Township Recreation Inventory ______________________________________ 3-41 Wilson Township Recreation Inventory _______________________________________ 3-43 Other Recreational Properties within Alpena County _____________________________ 3-45 City of Alpena Recreation Inventory ________________________________________________________ 3-48 Privately Owned Recreational Assets _______________________________________________________ 3-58 Recreation Grant Inventories ________________________________________________ 3-66 Chapter 4 Planning Process ___________________________________________________ 4-68 Chapter 5 Goals, Objectives & Action Plan _______________________________________ 5-72 Shared Goals for All Entities _________________________________________________ 5-72 Alpena County Objectives & Action Plan ______________________________________ 5-73 General Objectives ______________________________________________________________________ 5-73 Facility-Specific Objectives ________________________________________________________________ 5-75 Alpena County Action Plan ________________________________________________________________ 5-76 Alpena Charter Township Goals & Objectives___________________________________ 5-91 Alpena Charter Township Action Plan _________________________________________ 5-91 Alpena Charter Township Basis for Action _____________________________________ 5-93 1-4 Green Township Goals & Objectives __________________________________________ 5-95 Green Township Action Plan ________________________________________________ 5-96 Ossineke Township Goals & Objectives ________________________________________ 5-98 Ossineke Township Action Plan _____________________________________________ 5-101 Wilson Township Goals & Objectives ________________________________________ 5-102 Wilson Township Action Plan_______________________________________________ 5-103 Chapter 6 APPENDIX A ______________________________________________________ 6-107 Chapter 7 APPENDIX B ______________________________________________________ 7-108 Chapter 8 APPENDIX C ______________________________________________________ 8-109 1-5 TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1-1 – Location Map ........................................................................................................... 1-8 Figure 1-2 – Alpena County Water Resources Map ................................................................... 1-10 Figure 1-3 – Soil Maps ................................................................................................................ 1-12 Figure 1-4 – Alpena County Recreation Map ............................................................................. 1-14 Figure 2-1 – Alpena County Administrative Structure ............................................................... 2-18 Figure 2-2 – Alpena Charter Township Administrative Structure ............................................. 2-23 Figure 2-3 – Green Township Administrative Structure ............................................................ 2-24 Figure 2-4 – Ossineke Township Administrative Structure ....................................................... 2-26 Figure 2-5 – Wilson Township Administrative Structure ........................................................... 2-28 Figure 3-1 - Alpena County-owned Recreation Map ................................................................. 3-35 Figure 3-2 - Alpena Charter Township Recreation Map ............................................................ 3-38 Figure 3-3 - Green Township Recreation Map ........................................................................... 3-40 Figure 3-4 - Wilson Township Wolf Creek Property .................................................................. 3-43 Figure 3-5 – Wilson Township Recreation Map ......................................................................... 3-44 1-6 Chapter 1 COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION EXTENT OF PLAN FOCUS This Recreation Plan addresses recreational facilities and plans within the boundaries of Alpena County. This is a joint planning process to provide for recreation planning for the County of Alpena as well as the townships of Alpena, Green, Ossineke, and Wilson. These townships chose to jointly plan for the future of their recreation assets. The plan will evaluate the surrounding recreational opportunities as well as the socio-economic status of Alpena County and the surrounding area in order to determine recreational needs of the population and to plan for improvements which fit those needs. LOCATION AND REGIONAL SETTING Alpena County is located on the shores of Lake Huron in the northeast section of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (see Figure 1-1 – Location Map). Covering 568 square miles, the county includes 363,520 acres. It is bordered by Presque Isle County to the north, Montmorency County to the west, Alcona County to the south and Lake Huron to the east. Alpena County is 24 miles long from north to south. East to west, the county varies from 20.8 miles to 30.8 miles, because of the irregular shoreline of Lake Huron. Additionally, there are several offshore islands in Lake Huron that are a part of the county. The following townships are located within the planning area for this document: Alpena, Green, Long Rapids, Maple Ridge, Ossineke, Sanborn, Wellington and Wilson. Also included in the planning area are the City of Alpena, the Census Designated Place of Ossineke, as well as the unincorporated places of Bolton, Cathro, Herron, Hubbard Lake, Lachine, Leer and Long Rapids. 1-7 FIGURE 1-1 – LOCATION MAP A SNAPSHOT OF NATURAL FEATURES OF THE COMMUNITY WETLANDS A wetland is land where water is found, either on the surface or near the surface, at any time during the year. Poorly drained soils and water loving vegetation also may be present. Wetlands are often referred to as marshes, swamps or bogs. Residents of Michigan are becoming increasingly aware of the value of wetlands. Beyond their aesthetic value, wetlands improve water quality of lakes and streams by filtering polluting nutrients, organic chemicals and toxic heavy metals. Wetlands are closely related to high groundwater tables and serve to discharge or recharge aquifers. By absorbing excess water when river levels are high and releasing water when levels are low, wetlands help prevent floods and droughts. Wetlands are also dynamic ecosystems, which are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. 1-8 There are numerous wetland areas scattered throughout Alpena County totaling over 36 thousand acres. In addition to the many inland wetland areas, Alpena County also has significant coastal wetlands scattered along it 61 miles of Lake Huron shoreline. These wetlands are important resting and feeding spots for migratory birds and help slow shoreline erosion by dissipating wave energy. WATER RESOURCES Alpena County is blessed with a great number and variety of water resources located throughout the county. Alpena County depends on its water resources for development, recreation and commerce. Because water resources are such a prominent and important component of the county, it is necessary to identify and review the different types, quantities and qualities of the water resources available in the county. There are 68 natural and artificial water bodies scattered throughout Alpena County that range in size from under 1 acre to thousands of acres. The largest water body in the county is Fletcher Pond hydroelectric reservoir. Shared with Montmorency County, the reservoir covers a total of 8,970 acres with 5,310 acres in Alpena County. The largest natural lake is Long Lake that covers 2,750 acres. Other large water bodies in the county include Beaver Lake, Turtle Lake, Devils Lake #1 and #2, Lake Winyah, Lake Besser, Sunset Lake, Grass Lake, Crooked Lake and Middle Lake. The Main Branch of the Thunder Bay River, with headwaters in Montmorency